Gulf Coast Writers Association, serving Southwest Florida and beyond,
is the largest and liveliest writing community in Southwest Florida.
We’ve been gathering since 1995, long before Zoom was a thing,
and we’re still showing up in person every month in
Fort Myers, Florida, with real speakers, real snacks,
and really passionate writers.
2026 GCWA Annual
Writing Contest
The Gulf Coast Writers Association of Southwest Florida, 2026 Writing Contest is currently accepting submissions. The contest has three categories: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry. First Place in each category wins $200 and publication on the GCWA website. Second- and third-place winners also receive cash prizes.
So sharpen your pencils and find your keyboard,
whatever it takes to tell us your story or poem.
Our Judges can’t wait to read your work.
April is National Poetry Month. At our April 18th meeting, we will have a poetry slam. A poetry slam is a competitive poetry reading that blends creative writing, theatrical performance, and audience participation. Start preparing now for a fun time.
Southwest Florida Reading Festival
GCWA is proud to participate in the Fort Myers Reading Festival.
Join us:
Saturday, March 7, 2026,
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Fort Myers Regional Library
for the Southwest Florida Reading Festival.
GCWA will host a booth featuring 12 of our member authors. While author spots are full, the event is completely free to attend, and we invite members, future members, and the community to come enjoy the fun, meet local writers, and celebrate the love of reading.
In addition to our local authors, the festival will feature over 24 other famous authors.
Spotlight
Member Spotlight: Brian Sluga
We are honored to spotlight Brian Sluga. Brian is an award-winning author, a survivor of cancer, and a customer consultant. Brian has published works of poetry, an anthology, and his current award-winning book, The Shriek I Do Remember. His writing is influenced by music and his dreams. Click the tab to hear Brian’s inspiring interview.
Becoming a GCWA member is your opportunity to
grow your brand and drive traffic to your book.
Don’t miss your chance to shine.
Join today!
